Fear 4 Part 1

On a unseasonably warm day, a cute chipmunk got lost. Chucky is an
inquisitive chipmunk. Inquisitive means he asks questions. As an inquisitive chipmunk,
he investigates unknown things which sometimes land him into trouble.

This particular day, Chucky followed an unfamiliar
scent. He stood on his back legs to get a good whiff. What is that smell? On all fours again he runs toward the aroma.
The path took him farther from home than he realized. In front of him stood a large
brick building. A door is open and out of it waifs a fragrance he can’t
identify. He sniffs, sweet and probably crunchy.

Without thinking about the consequences, he enters the
building. He runs along the wall behind cabinets, shelves, and desks. He breathes
deep taking in the smell. This makes his mouth water. Where
is it? Chucky zips forward. He follows the scent, weaving around furniture and
darting across openings. Finally, he comes to a box where his nose tells him he
has found what he is searching for.

He is too short to see inside the box. Chucky jumps up
tries to climb the box wall. The box is too tall and slippery. So, he backs up
and runs at the box, leaping higher. Still, he slips. Again he tries. This
happens many times, each time he backs up farther. He is getting tired. Once more, come on Chucky you can do it! With
a burst of speed and a mighty leap he catches the top of the box. He hangs on
catching his breath. The odor is very strong. Chucky smiles as he looks at prettily
wrapped sacks filled to the brim with colorful bites. He isn’t sure what they
are but he imagines them to taste heavenly. A loud bang interrupts his
thoughts.

People!
Oh no! People! He has been warned about people. “Those
giants could squish you,” he remembers his mom saying.Once, he was chased by a boy and his dog. Frightened and shaking,
he can’t hold on to the top of the box and slides back down.

Foot falls were coming his way.

He scurries behind a desk. A person picks up the box
filled with the sacks of heavenly scented food. Smaller people reach into the
box and take out a sack. The smaller people are talking and laughing. Excitement
fills the room.

Music starts at the other end of the room. Small
people sit in bunches on the floor or chairs. They are eating the colorful
food. Chucky watches as tiny bits fall from the small people’s hands. His mouth
waters. Those people need to leave so I can eat the fallen pieces.

The taller person shows the smaller people how do
something, he can’t see, at the tables. The taller person moves on to another
table. At each table the group of smaller people appear to do something
different. Chucky is inquisitive and wants a better view.

He scampers closer. Closer.

“Aaah! What is that?” Chucky heard it coming from one
of the people.

“I think it’s a rat!” said one.

An eruption of feet and chaos ensued. People bump into
each other trying to get away.

“Settle down!” is the command from the taller person.

A hush falls. The room empties out.

Chucky doesn’t know what to do. The people leave from
the way he had gained entrance. He scans the room and notices the tiny bits of food
on the floor. Should I risk it?
Wide-eyed, he shoots toward a morsel and jams it into his mouth as he keeps going
to another hiding place.

He chews and pants. This is yummy! I knew it would be good. Sticky and crunchy at
the same time, as I hoped. It’s heavenly. He glances this way and that, then skids across the floor
snagging another piece. Off he goes after another, then another. He is so
engrossed in his passion of the food he forgets the danger he is in.

Again he leaves the protection of his hiding place.“There you are,” startles him as something almost catches
him. By a hair’s breadth he escapes. Chucky is running for his life, darting
this way and that. He squeezes himself behind a cabinet. Breath comes in gasps
as he waits. He is so frightened. What is he to do? He barely got away from the
trap but he is still trapped. The door is blocked by people and he doesn’t know
of any other way out.

All of a sudden it looks as if everyone is leaving the
room. Chucky waits a while and slowly sneaks out of his hiding place. He
swerves from a crash beside him. The door opens as if by itself. Wide open
space greet his frantic senses.

■■■

Boys and girls, will Chucky get out or is it a trick?
Who are the small people and tall person? Where do you think he is? What is the
heavenly, sticky, yet crunchy food?

Stay tuned. Our story will continue in our next
lesson.

Hint and something to think about: There are things
out there that frighten us but sometimes things are not as they seem.